François de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

Il y a peu de femmes dont le mérite dure plus que la beauté.

Il est du véritable amour comme de l’apparition
des esprits : tout le monde en parle, mais peu de
gens en ont vu.

That which makes us believe so easily that others have defects is that we all so easily believe what we wish.

Il n'y a point de gens qui aient plus souvent tort que ceux qui ne peuvent souffrir d'en avoir.

"Il est plus difficile d'être fidèle à sa maîtresse quand on est heureux que quand on en est maltraité.

"It is more difficult to be faithful to our lover when we are happy than when we are mistreated.

"On est quelquefois aussi différent de soi-même que des autres.

"One is sometimes as different from oneself as from others.

Grace is to the body what reason is to the mind.

Le soleil ni la mort ne se peuvent regarder fixement.

Les esprits médiocres condamnent d'ordinaire tout ce qui passe leur portée.

The happiness and misery of men depend no less on temper than fortune.

The pleasure of love is in loving; we are happier in the passion we feel than in what we inspire.

We should observe the place, the occasion, the temper in which we find the person who listens to us, for if there is much art in speaking to the purpose, there is no less in knowing when to be silent. There is an eloquent silence which serves to approve or to condemn, there is a silence of discretion and of respect. In a word, there is a tone, an air, a manner, which renders everything in conversation agreeable or disagreeable, refined or vulgar.

Nous avons tous assez de force pour supporter les maux d'autrui

Nous n’avouons de petits défauts que pour persuader que nous n’en avons pas de grands.

We are sure to displease when we speak too long and too often of one subject, and when we try to turn the conversation upon subjects that we think more instructive than others, we should enter indifferently upon every subject that is agreeable to others, stopping where they wish, and avoiding all they do not agree with.